WHEAT 31 



chaff and dirt and light weight kernels which are 

 likely to be deficient in vitality. 



TREATMENT FOR SMUT 



If the seed wheat is infected with smut, it 

 should be treated with a solution of formaldehyde 

 to destroy the smut spores which adhere to the 

 wheat kernels. (See page 96 for full treatment.) 



Treating for smut and careful grading of seed 

 may not only increase the yield, but by such a 

 practice it is possible to maintain a good variety 

 of wheat and improve both the yield and quality 

 of grain adapted to the soil and climate. All 

 farmers should take these precautions to increase 

 their annual yields and to maintain and improve 

 their seed wheat, but more rapid and more 

 permanent improvement may be secured by 

 individual selection of plants and careful breeding. 



WHEAT IMPROVEMENT 



The best varieties of cereals are strains that 

 have been continuously and carefully selected 

 and thus adapted to the soil conditions and ac- 

 climated to the belt in which they are grown. The 

 Turkey wheat owes its hardiness and adaptation 

 for growing in our western plains region largely 

 to the training which it has received on the steppes 

 of Russia and Turkestan. The Russian wheat 

 introduced into the hard wheat belt of this country 

 has a decided advantage over the soft wheat types 

 of the eastern states which are not adapted to 

 dry climatic conditions. It is doubtful, however, 



